‘Every problem a hub solves early is a crisis the council doesn’t solve later’

CALLS to halt the closure of six recently-opened “community hubs” were shot down at a rowdy full council meeting.

Labour councillors have demanded the new Conservative administration rethink plans to shutter hub buildings that were opened while they were in power, arguing their social value is worth more than simply bottom line.

Councillors warned that the Westminster Conservatives were “deliberately targeting the poorest people” and “taking the bread from families’ tables”. But the Tories say they must make uncomfortable decisions due to Labour government cuts that mean “it cannot be business as usual”, adding they want to protect services “residents really use”.

Sources have told Extra that an independent review showing the hubs save money in the long run has so far been withheld from public scrutiny.

In a motion at a full council meeting on Wednesday, Labour Harrow Road councillor Concia Albert said: “Picture a resident who is behind on her rent, her mother’s health is failing, she has not spoken properly to anyone in a week, she does not know which department deals with which problem. What she needs is one door, somewhere close to home. A place to go and sit down and work out what to do. We already have six of these in place. And tonight’s motion is a rallying cry by residents who need the hubs. When Conservatives take these away they are removing the bread from family’s tables. It is short-term thinking. Every problem a hub solves early is a crisis the council doesn’t solve later.

“Help early can prevent an eviction.”

The hubs were set up as part of a project to tackle social isolation and to provide a drop-in space for people from all backgrounds and ages to come together in a “warm and welcoming place”.

There is Citizens Advice, food banks and health checks along with free and low-cost adult activities such as gardening, cooking, sewing, arts and crafts, exercise sessions, games, and social clubs.

Family and children’s activities including after-school and holiday clubs, toddler groups, SEN support, and cultural sessions. Youth programmes offer coding, gaming, media, sports, skills development, and employment opportunities. There are also affordable spaces for hire for community groups, classes, and event.
The Rampayne Street Community Hub opened its doors in March and “quickly became more than just a building; it became the heart of Pimlico”, according to a resident petition.

The City council is looking at moving some of the six recent opened hubs into libraries. But there are concerns the disruption has not been properly thought through and is part of a party political agenda. Labour’s Nafsika Butler-Thalassis said: “We are facing the time when council deliberately focusing the cuts on the poorest people in Westminster. Free schools meals, council tax support, closing Bayswater Family Centre. When you cut off support for the poorest who do you think picks up the pieces? The hubs are an amazing resources for many thousands of residents who access support from the voluntary sector. If you take that away you will see increase in rough sleeping, drop in school attendance, increase in unemployment and debt, rent arrears in the private rented sector and pressure on housing list. The cost of the hubs are a fraction.

“You can’t fit the hubs in libraries. The community hubs far more than a bit of spare space.”

The cabinet member for civic pride Cllr Robert Rigby said: “I fully recognise the decision I make will have a significant impact. I have been asking myself two questions: what exactly are these community hubs? And, more importantly, how much does it cost? Getting an answer to the first question has been incredibly difficult.

“What is the true cost of these Labour hubs? The cost sits in the region of £11.7million, that is not miniscule. This question of cost is more critical than ever given the financial crisis, because of £100million funding cut from the Labour government it cannot be business as usual. Difficult and uncomfortable decisions must be made. We are proud to support the hubs, but we will do so sustainably.”

Conservative Lorraine Dean said: “Politics is about making wise choices. While we have amazing provision we should not be duplicating these. We should be using all our energies and money on services that residents really do use.”

Responding, Labour’s Angela Pinnock said: “A strong community doesn’t just happen. It is not just about information and signposting. If hubs are reduced to being advice centres with some activities tagged on then a vitally important and specific feature will be lost. It is the bit that doesn’t cost money that makes them special.”